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Location: Regensburg BY, Germany | Dear OFC'es,
when I saw Meuti's latest (?) acqusition is the »For Sale« section I got a little (<- what an understatement!) envious and decided to go at least for a "kind-of" matching pair of W597/W598s -- you could call it a double-neck-with-double-body model, too ;) . One piece of the set (the 6-string) is already mine and I love plaing it a lot. So I started searching for a W598. Although I like the -CB a lot, I aimed at the -4G since this is my W597's color.
I found very few offers on the WWW, none of them on the OFC or Ebay, and immediately wrote e-mails to the sellers. None of the W598s was available any more. Finally I stumbled over a music store in mid-east NY last week that advertised one of the beauties for $899.95. This time I called the guys on the phone and they still had (they even have!) it in stock. Guess how happy I was? :D I asked them for the shipping rate and after a while I got an e-mail which said that they would ship internationally via UPS only and that this would cost $430. Oops! I knew UPS was not the cheapest option but USPS Express is hardly more than only one fourth of this! The UPS int'l rate would make the grand total (V.A.T. and customs fee for both item and delivery!) definitely supersede my limit for this guitar.
Yes, I have heard that USPS tracking has not the best reputation and the maximum insurance would not cover the whole thing but I would be willing to take the risk. I called them several times and we had some nice conversation -- anyway: they are not going to send the W598 to me via USPS. Period. They also mentioned that I would have to pay via PayPal (no problem, Sir!) and that the delivery address must match the billing address. So I unfortunately even cannot pay from outside the U.S. for getting it shipped to a domestic location.
This is where I desperately ask all (actually there would have to be only one to do it...) of you OFC'ers for help. Would someone from our community be willing to buy this guitar for me and relay it to Germany? The easiest way to do this would be to mail order it (I don't require anyone inspecting it though this would be optimal) since it comes its way readily packed, simply replace the delivery address on it with mine, fill in the customs form CN23 with the instrument's actual price and have it shipped from the nearest USPS station -- that's it. I would pay the whole bill for my OFC partner in advance -- which I estimate yet to be at least $200 less than via UPS -- and the usual customs charges (3.2%) and German V.A.T. (19%) on delivery. If the grand total permits it I would be happy add a donation for the board, too.
If someone was willing to do me this big favor please let me know, be it by publicly replying to this posting or by PM. We could discuss the details on the phone. Just drop me your phone number and the preferred time of day and I'll call you.
CU soon
Manfred AKA Minnefred |
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Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Good luck with it Manfred.
FWIW, Manfred asked me to be the go between, but the guitar is just a little to far for me to get to with my present work schedule. The guitar is just a little north of Albany. Hopefully someone more local can lend a hand. |
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Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | Is thee any service members getting ready to head to Germany. I mean that live in the area of the guitar. It may take longer Manfred to get, but if there was, they can bring it with them, and When they get to Frankfurt, they can ups it to you from there. Or you two can meet up at the airport. No custom problems, save a lot of money and get your Ovation. |
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Posts: 48
Location: Sydney | Would the shop send it nice and cheap domestically using USPS or UPS, and then you could use a mail redelivery / forwarding service?
I don't know what they charge, but places like:
http://www.bongous.com/
http://www.shipito.com/
http://myus2.myus.com/
Might offer a decent price.
Good luck buddy! |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | PM sent |
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Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Minnefred, I'm hoping someone can help you. If you need any info about the shipping, customs etc just send me a message. |
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August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Hallo Manni,
What is your home town??
Bernie |
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Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Ah, Meuti,
now I'm on vacation next week. Thursday and Wednesday I heve no car. Please call or email me.
Bernie |
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Posts: 25
Location: Regensburg BY, Germany | Wow -- quite a lot of replies to reply to :) Thanks for the immediate and great feedback.
For those possibly care and bburg who dared to ask: I live near Regensburg, way down south in mid-eastern Bavaria. Profile updated. And: actually I spell it Manä (see the a umlaut character?) but we're in a forum with a presumably ASCIIsh tradition and tradition is something I respect :rolleyes:
@kitmann: great idea. I don't necessarily want to save the customs fee and the VAT. But personal delivery of my baby to Germany would be very comfy ;)
@Jeremiah: thanks a lot! I didn't even know such services exist. I will take it into consideration. The only problem is the payment which must be via PayPal if it comes from a foreign country while the billing (=PayPal) address must be the same as the shipping address => this might be a no-go...
@Meuti: am I still up-to-date in that I have to pay 19% VAT for the guitar and the shipping plus another 3.2% for the guitar? I got the last parcel (my 1598-MERB Signature) from the U.S. in fall '08 the fees were simply charged on delivery. Does that still hold? Same with UPS?
I'll be back with you soon. Currently I'm spending a few days in Berlin. Anyone on the board who lives in our capital?
CU Manfred |
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August 2009
Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | That is still correct, Manfred. As far as I know FedEx manages the customs at the airport for you and collects the money from you when they deliver to your door. With USPS I had to pick up my guitar at the local custom office and pay the taxes there. I don't know about UPS though.
@Bernie: I will. I didn't forget you :) |
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August 2009
Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Oh and Manfred, if (for any strange reason) it will be easier to ship the guitar to Frankfurt, Main, I can pick it up for you there and bring it down to Regensburg. I have some friends in Munich that I visit from time to time and a friend's business car for which I don't pay any fuel. So that wouldn't be a problem. ;) |
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August 2010
Posts: 25
Location: Regensburg BY, Germany | Hi everybody,
I am absolutely happy MusicMishka has kindly offered to do the forwarding of my W598. And you bet I agreed happily :) . I'll let you know when my baby's arrived...
I'd like to say thank you again for your contributions.
@Meuti: thanks for the info -- I'll see where I have to pick up my USPS-shipped guitar(s). And please keep in mind: you don't have to deliver a guitar to be welcome »in my place«! Just drop me a PM and let me know when you're around. I'd be happy if we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves to each other in person.
Have a good time and take care
Manfred |
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Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Congratulations Manfred. And not just "good" but "Great On Ya Mike!"
I'm glad someone else could step in and help out.
Enjoy that guitar! :D |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Luv these sagas. Way to step up Mike! 
Now the tough part...  
Then one day...  |
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Location: Sydney | Man you guys are pretty nice! I gotta get out of this big city. |
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Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | There are times when I think the OFC is the only place where globilization really works! I'm very happy and proud to be a part of this community! |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | It's a small world...It's my pleasure to help out...putting Adamas Twin's together is just fun!!!
I have to add that it's nice to help honest folks: Manfred is paying full custom fee's: never asked for anything else! That's cool! |
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March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Hats off to you, Mike!!
You are a fountain of good karma and helping Manfred out just shows what a class act you are (again...)!!
:) :) :) |
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August 2010
Posts: 25
Location: Regensburg BY, Germany | Hey you out there! (Re-)reading your posts and considering the overwhelming feedback I'm close to tears for pure joy -- and pride as well: I feel honored to be admitted to and well accepted in this exceptional community.
Hope I can do something for one of you some day. Don't ever hesitate to ask. I'm always willing to check if it's feasible.
Thanks once more to all of you and in particular to Mike for doing me (and the »Graphite Twins«) such an enormous favor. I can only subscribe your appreciations for Mike (hope this sentence turns out to be valid and above all respectful English).
Bless you all
Manfred |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | It's really a great family here, I enjoy it to be a member here.
Bernie |
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Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Another happy ending :p
Kudos for all the OFCers !!!! |
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August 2010
Posts: 25
Location: Regensburg BY, Germany | Thank you one million times, Mike, and once more. And over and over again. You did far more than I could ever have hoped for.
Yes, folks, the ending is exceedingly happy: my W598 arrived today (actually yesterday; I had to do the processing at the customs myself). What a beauty! Want to take a look? Go ahead:
The »Graphite Twins« Family Reunion
Sorry for the flashlight pics; I'll add photos with softer ambient light ASAP.
Mike, you took extreme care to make her travel safely across the pond. The lady's in perfect shape, particularly the perfectly straight neck and even fretboard. Thanks to your excellent packaging the new 9158 case you supplied is also still sound. You did me a huge favor which I will remember. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Minnefred, it was my pleasure...glad it's home...it's a stunning 12 string and certainly deserved the new case instead of the wreck it arrived in from NY...enjoy! |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | That a beautiful pair of twins. |
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Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Lovely! It was certainly worth the wait. |
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Asking for help at buying a guitar in the U.S.